Locomotion of Amorphous Surface Robots

ABSTRACT

An amorphous robot includes a compartmented bladder containing fluid, a valve assembly, and an outer layer encapsulating the bladder and valve assembly. The valve assembly draws fluid from a compartment(s) and discharges the drawn fluid into a designated compartment to displace the designated compartment with respect to the surface. Another embodiment includes elements each having a variable property, an outer layer that encapsulates the elements, and a control unit. The control unit energizes a designated element to change its variable property, thereby moving the designated element. The elements may be electromagnetic spheres with a variable polarity or shape memory polymers with changing shape and/or size. Yet another embodiment includes an elongated flexible tube filled with ferrofluid, a moveable electromagnet, an actuator, and a control unit. The control unit energizes the electromagnet and moves the electromagnet via the actuator to magnetize the ferrofluid and lengthen the flexible tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/431,168 filed on Jan. 10, 2011, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The invention described herein was made by an employee of the UnitedStates Government, and may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment for Government purposes without the payment of any royaltiesthereon or therefore.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the locomotion of amorphous robots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Robots are electromechanical devices that perform work tasksautomatically or autonomously. Robots are used in a host ofapplications, many of which present unique design challenges. Forinstance, complex surface-roving robots generally referred to as“rovers” may be used in space exploration missions as well as inEarth-based search and rescue operations. Controlled via remote link,rovers can employ an array of sensors to collect and analyze soilsamples, measure the atmospheric composition and weather conditions, andcollect high-resolution imagery of the surface terrain over an extendedperiod, often in relatively inhospitable operating environments. NASA'sMars Pathfinder rover Sojourner and the more recent twin MarsExploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity are examples of some spaceexploration rovers.

Once deployed on a surface, conventional rovers are typically propelledalong a surface. In particularly sandy or loamy soil environments suchas the lunar or Martian surfaces, conventional propulsion devices maybecome fouled and stuck. Rovers may therefore avoid exploring certainterrain features, or they may be programmed to follow a less thanoptimal route. Likewise, in some Earth-based roving applications,miniature rovers may be used to search through unstable piles of rubbleor confined areas that are inaccessible to human search teams.Conventional rover designs may be less than optimal in theseapplications due to certain design limitations that may cause the roversto become irretrievably stuck in the rubble or other difficult tonavigate surface features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An amorphous surface robot is disclosed herein. In its variousembodiments, the amorphous robot provides improved surface mobility. Asused herein, the term “amorphous robot” refers to a robot lacking arigidly defined and unchanging shape. The presently disclosed robotschange shape in the direction of intended travel to provide improvedsurface mobility along with enhanced protection from the elements.

The presently disclosed amorphous robot designs rely on one or more ofthe following principles: (1) the circulation of fluid in the desireddirection of travel via a fully enclosed valve assembly; (2) thesequential switching of polarity of one or more fully enclosedelectromagnets; and/or (3) the sequential expansion and deflation of anactive material-based polymeric sac or cell. All disclosed robot designsenable movement with respect to a solid surface, as opposed to movementthrough free space or a liquid operating environment, without the use ofwheels, tracks, or legs. All designs are fully scalable, and thus can bereadily adapted as needed to the particular application and operatingenvironment in which the robots are to be used.

In particular, an amorphous robot for use on a surface includes a supplyof fluid, a bladder, a valve assembly, and a flexible outer layer. Thebladder contains the supply of fluid and is divided into compartments.The valve assembly is in fluid communication with each of thecompartments and includes a pump. The outer layer encapsulates thebladder and the valve assembly. The valve assembly selectively drawssome of the fluid from at least one of the compartments and dischargesthe drawn fluid into a designated one of the compartments to displacethe designated compartment with respect to the surface. This moves theamorphous robot in the direction of the discharge.

Another amorphous robot includes a plurality of elements each having avariable property, a flexible outer layer that encapsulates theplurality of elements, and a control unit in electrical communicationwith the elements. The control unit selectively energizes a designatedone of the elements to change the variable property of that element,thereby moving the designated element with respect to the remainingelements. The robot thus moves with respect to the surface in thedirection of movement of the designated element.

The elements in one embodiment are electromagnetic spheres, and thevariable property is the magnetic polarity of the electromagneticspheres. Alternatively, the elements may be polymer cells such as shapememory polymer (SMP) cells. In such an embodiment, the variable propertymaybe a variable shape and/or size of the SMP cells.

Yet another embodiment of the present amorphous robot includes anelongated flexible tube filled with ferrofluid and having a longitudinalaxis, a moveable electromagnet positioned with respect to the elongatedflexible tube, an actuator, and a control unit. The actuator isconnected to the electromagnet and selectively moves the electromagnet.The control unit is electrically connected to the moveable electromagnetand to the actuator. The control unit energizes the electromagnet andmoves, via the actuator, the electromagnet in a first direction withrespect to the longitudinal axis. This magnetizes the ferrofluid andthereby lengthens the flexible tube in the first direction. The controlunit then de-energizes the electromagnet to thereby de-magnetize theferrofluid and thus shorten the flexible tube in the first direction.This moves the robot in the first direction with respect to the surface,in a manner similar to that of a worm which extends in a desireddirection, grips the surface, and then pulls its trailing portionforward.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best modes for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial cut-away perspective top view illustrationof an example amorphous robot having a fluid-filled compartmentalizedbladder and an enclosed valve assembly.

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of an example control unit for usewith the amorphous robot shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example movement sequence ofthe amorphous robot shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic side view illustration of an alternativeembodiment of the amorphous robot of FIG. 1 having a vertically-orientedvalve assembly, with the robot shown in a resting state.

FIG. 3B is a schematic side view illustration of the amorphous robot ofFIG. 3A in a partially tilled motion state.

FIG. 3C is a schematic side view illustration of the amorphous robot ofFIGS. 3A and 3B in a settling state.

FIG. 3D is a schematic side view illustration of the amorphous robot ofFIGS. 3A-C in another resting state.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view illustration of another amorphous robotthat uses ferrofluid and a moveable electromagnet for propulsion.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view illustration of yet another amorphousrobot that uses a series of sequentially-activated electromagnets forpropulsion.

FIG. 5A is a schematic side view illustration of a portion of the robotof FIG. 5 in a resting state.

FIG. 5B is a schematic side view illustration of the robot of FIG. 5A ina first stage of motion.

FIG. 5C is a schematic side view illustration of the robot of FIGS. 5Aand 5B in a second stage of motion.

FIG. 5D is a schematic side view illustration of the robot of FIGS. 5A-Cin a third stage of motion.

FIG. 5E is a schematic side view illustration of the robot of FIGS. 5A-Din another resting state.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an exampleelectromagnet usable with the amorphous robot of FIGS. 5-5E.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective side view illustration of an amorphousrobot having a plurality of polymeric cells.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an example control unit usablewith the amorphous robot shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond tolike or similar components throughout the several figures, an amorphousrobot 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The robot 10 is positioned with respect toa surface 11, for instance a terrestrial surface or a lunar, Martian, orother extraterrestrial surface. The robot 10 includes a valve assembly22 and a bladder 12, the latter defining a plurality of compartments 13.An outer layer 14 fully encapsulates the bladder 12 such that thebladder 12 is completely shielded and thus isolated from dirt or debrisof the surface 11 and the surrounding atmosphere. A portion of the outerlayer 14 is removed in FIG. 1 to more clearly illustrate the structureof the bladder 12 encapsulated by the outer layer 14.

The outer layer 14 may include surface asperities 20 which formpseudopodia (false feet). Asperities 20 may be, by way of example,surface features such as nodules, fingers, or bumps. The asperities 20extend from the robot 10 to grip the surface 11 and thus facilitatemovement of the robot 10. As temperatures can vary widely on a givensurface 11, all materials of construction should be selected to properlymatch the conditions of the intended operating environment.

The robot 10 may include a control unit 50, an example of which isdescribed in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 1A. The controlunit 50 may be enclosed within the valve assembly 22 and/or electricallyconnected thereto. A sensor 100 may be attached to the robot 10. Such asensor 100 may draw power from the control unit 50. The valve assembly22 may also include a plurality of fluid ports 24. Each fluid port 24may be positioned within a respective one of the compartments 13. Thatis, the number of ports 24 may equal the number of compartments 13 inone embodiment. Control of the valve assembly 22 for movement of therobot 10 with respect to the surface 11 is described below withreference to FIG. 2.

Each of the various compartments 13 may contain a variable amount offluid 15. Four compartments 13 are shown in the non-limiting exampleembodiment of FIG. 1. More or fewer compartments 13 may be provided inother designs, with at least two compartments 13 required for basicfront-to-back or side-to-side motion. Regardless of the number ofcompartments 13, the valve assembly 22 is in fluid communication witheach of the compartments 13. The valve assembly 22 ultimately controlsthe flow of fluid 15 between the different compartments 13 so as to movethe robot 10 in a desired direction. The ports 24 are shownschematically in FIG. 1 for simplicity. Those of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the actual ports 24 would have a length, shape,and orientation within the compartments 13 sufficient for ensuring thateach compartment 13 can be substantially vacated or filled with fluid 15as needed.

Each compartment 13 of the robot 10 may be separated from adjacentcompartments 13 by a compartment wall 16, for instance a fluid-permeablewall in the form of a membrane or mesh, or an impermeable/solid wall.Surfaces 18 of the bladder 12, including or excluding the compartmentwall 16 depending on the embodiment, may be configured to allow thefluid 15 to gradually flow at a closely controlled rate from onecompartment 13 to another. As shown in the inset 21, the surfaces 18 maybe a membrane, mesh, or other porous and/or fluid-permeable materialdefining pores 19. The pores 19 may be of a calibrated size and/ornumber so as to gently and gradually equalize fluid pressure in thevarious compartments 13 after completing a fill of a designatedcompartment 13, as will be explained below with reference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1A, in one possible example the control unit 50 ofFIG. 1 may include a microprocessor or CPU 51, memory (MEM) 52, a fluidpump (P) 54, a transceiver unit (T) 55, a valve body (VB) 56, and abattery (B) 57. The control unit 50 may be at least partiallyconstructed in some embodiments as a micro-electromechanical system(MEMS), as is understood in the art. The pump 54 is electricallyconnected to the battery 57, for instance a lithium ion, nickel cadmium,or other single or multi-cell rechargeable battery or any other suitablepower supply. The battery 57 may be recharged using solar power in someembodiments, e.g. using a solar panel (not shown). Such a design mayhelp to extend the operating life of the robot 10 of FIG. 1, and may beadvantageous for reducing the weight/size of battery 57.

The pump 54 may be energized via the battery 57 in response to a commandsignal (arrow 17) from the CPU 51. When energized, the pump 54 drawsfluid 15 (see FIG. 1) from one compartment 13 through an inlet fluidport 24A as indicated by inlet arrow 30. The pump 54 may then circulatethe fluid 15 through the valve body 56 before discharging the fluid 15through an outlet fluid port 24B to another compartment 13 as indicatedby outlet arrow 32.

The transceiver 55 of FIG. 1A, which may be used in all embodimentsdisclosed herein, may receive a set of control signals 59 from a source58. The control signals 59 may be, by way of example, a set of missioncontrol signals broadcast from a ground-based or an orbiting controlplatform. Thus, the source 58 may be an orbiting module in remotedownlink/uplink wireless communication with the robot 10, or the source58 may be a conventional rover from which the robot 10 is deployed.

For instance, a conventional rover may carry the robot 10 to a difficultto navigate terrain feature such as a rock-strewn crater, deploy therobot 10, and communicate with the robot 10 as the robot 10 moves intothe crater and performs a work task. The robot 10 may periodicallyestablish a communications link with the source 58, download programinstructions for a particular task sequence to memory 52, execute theinstructions via the CPU 51, and repeat the process as needed.Alternatively, all required instructions may be pre-loaded in memory 52to provide greater autonomy of action by the robot 10 and/or to conservethe battery 57.

Referring to FIG. 2, locomotion of the amorphous robot 10 of FIG. 1 withrespect to surface 11 is explained with respect to a reference line 26on the surface 11. When at position “Rest 1” the robot 10 is adjacent tothe reference line 26. The valve assembly 22 of FIG. 1 is inactive, andfluid 15 shown in the same Figure is about equally distributed withinthe various compartments 13. The pumping stage (Pump) shown in FIG. 2 isentered when motion is desired. As shown in FIG. 1A, the command signal(arrow 17) is transmitted to the pump 54. In response, the fluid 15 ofFIG. 1 is drawn into the valve assembly 22 from a rear compartment 13Ras indicated by inlet arrows 30. This fluid 15 is then discharged into aforward compartment 13F as indicated by outlet arrows 32, with the term“forward” here used to mean “opposite the rear compartment 13R”, andthus the actual compartment 13F could be a side or rear compartment inan absolute sense. In other words, the actual direction of motion willvary with the particular compartment 13 being filled. As a result offilling the forward stage 13F, the mass of the robot 10 is displacedacross the reference line 26 in the direction of arrow 28.

At the recirculation phase (Recirculate), fluid 15 discharged into theforward compartment 13F gradually returns to the other compartments 13,13R as indicated by flow return arrows 34. This equalizing return flowoccurs by virtue of the pores 19 of the material 18 as shown in FIG. 1.The diameter, number, and spacing of the various pores 19 may beselected to provide the desired rate of equalization as noted above.Alternatively, the valve assembly 22 of FIG. 1 may be configured toallow fluid 15 to slowly flow back through itself to the variouscompartments 13 at a controlled rate. While pressure equalization isprogressing, the asperities 20 of FIG. 1 continue to grip the surface 11and thereby hold the robot 10 in place. The robot 10 of FIG. 2 thensettles at a new rest position (Rest 2) forward of the originalreference line 26. The original rest position (Rest 1) is indicated bytrace 38. The above process can be repeated from the new rest position(Rest 2).

Referring to FIGS. 3A-D, the amorphous robot 10 of FIG. 1 may bealternatively configured as an amorphous robot 110 having avertically-oriented valve assembly 122. That is, unlike the valveassembly 22 of FIG. 1 in which the axes of the various fluid ports 24are substantially parallel to the surface 11, two of the fluid ports 24of the valve assembly 122 of FIGS. 3A-D have a common axis 31 that issubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface 11 when therobot 110 is at rest on a flat surface as shown in FIG. 3A. The term“substantially perpendicular” in one embodiment refers to a range ofabout 85° to about 95° with respect to the plane of the surface 11. Therobot 110 of FIGS. 3A-D operates in much the same manner as the robot10, but with a resultant rotational/tumbling action.

The robot 110 is shown in FIG. 3A as it appears relative to thereference line 26. A top compartment 13T is positioned above the valveassembly 122, a bottom compartment 13B is positioned below the valveassembly 122, i.e., closer to the surface 11 than the top compartment13T, and side compartments 13S are positioned on either side of thevalve assembly 122. Fluid 15 is contained within the bottom compartment13B, and at negligible levels in the respective side and topcompartments 13S and 13T. Thus, FIG. 3A represents an equilibriumstarting condition.

In FIG. 3B, fluid 15 is drawn into the valve assembly 122 from thebottom compartment 13B as indicated by inlet arrow 30. The fluid 15 isthen discharged into a desired side compartment 13S as indicated byoutlet arrow 32. Fluid flow into side compartment 13S fills the sidecompartment 13S and empties the bottom compartment 13B. This causes therobot 110 to surge forward a bit with respect to the surface 11 asindicated by arrow 28. In FIG. 3C, with the desired one of thecompartments 13S now substantially filled with fluid 15, the robot 110begins to settle. The pumping action ceases. FIG. 3D represents the newstarting position, with the robot 110 at rest a bit forward of itsstarting position represented in FIG. 3A. The process resumes with FIG.3A, with compartment 13S of FIG. 3D now becoming the bottom compartment13B of FIG. 3A.

Referring to FIG. 4, in yet another embodiment an amorphous robot 210may include an elongated flexible inner tube 40 disposed within aflexible outer layer 114. The outer layer 114 may be similar to theouter layer 14 shown in FIG. 1, e.g., with similar materials andasperities 20 which grip the surface 11. The flexible tube 40 is filledwith ferrofluid 25 and is circumscribed by a moveable electromagnet 42,for instance a ring. A gap (arrow 61) is defined between the inner tube40 and the outer layer 114. Optionally, the gap (arrow 61) can bepre-pressurized with fluid or an inert gas to help maintain a calibratedspace or standoff with respect to the electromagnet 42. This mayfacilitate axial movement of the electromagnet 42.

In a particular embodiment, lightweight end magnets 55 may be positionedat or toward either end of the inner tube 40, with the inner tube 40 andthe outer layer 114 being affixed to both of the end magnets 55. The endmagnets 55 can act as mechanical stops to extreme motion of theelectromagnet 42 if needed, and can also provide an electromagneticfield whose polarity may be changed as needed by a control unit 150 tothereby create a magnetic field for assisting in the push-pull motion ofthe electromagnet 42, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art.

The electromagnet 42 and the end magnets 55 of FIG. 4 may beelectrically connected to the control unit 150 and positioned such thatan inner surface 44 of the electromagnet 42 is positioned adjacent to anouter surface 46 of the inner tube 40. The control unit 150 may includesufficient memory 52 and a processor/CPU 51, along with a battery 57 anda transceiver 55 as explained above with reference to the control unit50 of FIG. 1A. The control unit 150 may selectively move theelectromagnet 42 via an actuator 65 as shown schematically in FIG. 4. Asthe outer layer 114 helps insulate and encapsulate the electromagnet 42,rotating or linearly translating parts may be employed as the actuator65 without much concern for premature fouling of the actuator 65 bysurface contaminants. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art mayenvision various possible embodiments for the actuator 65, including butnot limited to a motor, a motorized ball screw, a linear actuator,cables, and/or smart materials such as a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire.

The ferrofluid 25 filling the inner tube 40 of FIG. 4 may be any liquidwhich becomes strongly magnetized in the presence of an applied magneticfield. As is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, aferrofluid typically contains a Brownian suspension of nanoscaleferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic particles in an organic solvent.Non-limiting example particles include magnetite and hematite. Whenmagnetized by the electromagnet 42, the suspended particles align in thedirection of magnetic flux and thus form a generally rigid clump at oneend of the inner tube 40. That is, controlled movement of the energizedelectromagnet 42 in the direction of arrow 45 along the axis 33 of thetube 40 magnetizes the ferrofluid 25 and forces it toward one end of thetube 40, thus slightly lengthening the tube 40 in the direction of arrow28.

Deactivation of the electromagnet 42 and return in the direction ofarrow 47 to its starting position, with assistance of the actuator andany required field coordination with the end magnets 55, thus allows therobot 210 to gradually inch its way along the surface 11. Direction ofmotion may be changed via changing the polarity as needed of the variousthe end magnets 55 and the electromagnet 42. However, unlike theprevious designs motion of the robot 210 if FIG. 4 is directionallylimited to the axis 33. As will all of the present embodiments, the tube40 may be connected to a sensor and deployed from a rover or othervehicle, or used separately from such a rover depending on the intendedapplication. The motion of the robot 210 may be remotely controlled asexplained above with reference to FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the polarity-changing locomotive approach of FIG. 4may be applied to another amorphous robot 310. A plurality of elements70 in the form of electromagnetic spheres are fully encapsulated withina flexible outer layer 214. The elements 70, referred to hereinafter aselectromagnetic spheres 70 for clarity, have a variable property in theform of a variable magnetic polarity. The polarity of theelectromagnetic spheres 70 may be sequentially changed to thereby movethe robot 310 in a desired direction with respect to the surface 11.

As with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, asperities 120 may be provided onthe outer layer 214 to help grip the surface 11, as indicated by the setof tracks 29 left in the soil of the surface 11. Fluid 15 may act as adamping fluid by filling the void between the electromagnets 70 and theouter layer 214. This may help in protecting the electromagnetic spheres70 and damping the force of any collision adjacent electromagneticspheres 70.

Referring to FIG. 5A, at rest with respect to the reference line 26,every other electromagnetic sphere 70 has the same polarity, e.g., aninitial polarity sequence of (+, −, +, −) as shown. This alternatingsequence acts to magnetically bind the electromagnetic spheres 70 toeach other in a series, i.e., in line. As shown in FIG. 5A, the leadelectromagnetic sphere 70, which is identified in FIG. 5A by arrow 82,is repelled in the direction of arrow 28 by changing its polarity suchthat the polarity matches that of the next electromagnet 70, hererepresented as a change from positive (+) to negative (−) polarity.

Likewise, changing the polarity sequence to (−, +, +, −) as shown inFIG. 5C magnetically repels the second electromagnetic spheres 70 awayfrom the third electromagnetic spheres 70 in the sequence and toward thelead electromagnetic sphere 70. The process continues as shown in FIGS.5D and 5E, with FIG. 5E representing the new starting position a bitforward of the reference line 26.

Referring to FIG. 6, each electromagnetic sphere 70 may include acontrol unit 250 that selectively energizes a designated one of theelectromagnetic spheres 70 to change the polarity of the designatedelectromagnetic sphere 70, thereby moving the designated electromagneticsphere 70 with respect to the remaining spheres 70. The amorphous robot310 thus moves with respect to the surface 11 in the direction ofmovement of the designated electromagnetic sphere 70.

The control unit 250 may include memory 52, a transceiver 55, and abattery 57. A microprocessor/CPU 51 may be included within at least oneof the electromagnetic spheres 70 to provide top-level sequentialcontrol of the robot 310. The control unit 250 may be fully encapsulatedby a magnetically neutral outer layer or shell 84. The shell 84 maydefine a core 74 of a suitable dielectric and thermal insulatingmaterial.

Conductive coils 72 may be wrapped with respect to the core 74. Coils 72may be bundles of smaller wires as indicated by arrow 172. The internaldetail is shown for only one coil 72 in FIG. 6 for illustrativesimplicity. The coils 72 are electrically connected to the battery 57 ofthe control unit 250 by conductive leads 93. Changing the direction offlow of an electrical current through the coils 72, which can beselectively performed by the control unit 250 as understood in the art,thus changes the polarity of a given electromagnetic sphere 70 asneeded, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.Controlled sequential polarity change is therefore used to provide themotion sequence shown in FIGS. 5A-E as described above.

Referring to FIG. 7, in yet another embodiment an amorphous robot 410may include a plurality of elements 170 in the form of polymeric cells,which hereinafter are referred to as cells 170 for clarity. The cells170 are collectively encapsulated within a flexible outer layer 314. Theouter layer 314 may be similar to the designs set forth above withreference to FIGS. 1-6 for outer layers 14, 114, and 214. The individualcells 170 may be formed from a shape-memory polymer (SMP) or othersuitable shape-changing material. As is well understood in the art, SMPsare a polymeric class of smart materials that can return from atemporary deformed state to a permanent default shape when stimulated byan external stimulus. SMPs can thus maintain their temporary shape untila shape change back into the permanent form is activated by an appliedstimulus, or by the termination of an applied stimulus depending on theembodiment.

By selectively changing the shape of a designated one of the cells 170,the robot 410 of FIG. 7 can be caused to rotate and thus tumble in adesired direction. The number and size/shapes of the cells 170 may varywith the design to provide the desired mobility. The cells 170 may bestimulated via heat and/or electricity or light depending on theembodiment. Therefore, the robot 410 may include a battery 57 as part ofa control unit 350 as will now be described with reference to FIG. 8.

The control unit 350 of FIG. 8 is electrically connected to each of thecells 170 via a conductor 93, e.g., a length of wire or a coil. Thecontrol unit 350 may be disposed within one of the cells 170, wedgedbetween the various cells 170, or otherwise enclosed by the outer layer314. The control unit 350 may include a microprocessor or CPU 51, memory52, a transceiver 55, and the battery 57.

As with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, which applies to allembodiments disclosed herein, a source 58 may transmit signals 59 to therobot 410 of FIG. 7, with the signals 59 received by the transceiver 55.The CPU 51 may then execute mission instructions communicated via thesignals 59, or may download the same to memory 52 for later execution.Thus, when the robot 410 of FIG. 7 is to move in a desired direction,the CPU 51 can stimulate one of the cells 170 via transmission of astimulus signal (arrow 95), as shown in FIG. 8. The shape of the cell170 changes, e.g., increases in size, such that the robot 410 tumbles ina desired direction.

Because the gravitational pull toward surface 11 of FIG. 7 provides themotive force, a sensor pack 67 may be provided, e.g., in each polymercell 170, to identify the position and orientation of cell 170. Sensorpack 67 may include a gyroscope, accelerometer, and/or any other sensorcapable of determining, individually or collectively, the position ofone cell 170 relative to the surface 11 and the other cells 170, andcommunicating the same as a position signal (arrow 68) to the controlunit 350. Thus, the control unit 350 can determine the cell 170 havingthe optimal position for activation.

The cell 170 identified as being the best candidate cell for activationmay be increased in size and/or changed in shape such that the cell 170with the temporarily increased shape will fall toward the surface 11 andcause the robot 410 to topple. The cells 170 can be connected to eachother such that movement of one cell pulls the other cells 170 in aparticular direction, or the cells 170 can be different portions orregions of a single cell 170. In the latter embodiment, conductors 93may be implanted in the different regions of the single cell 170 toprovide the required response.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been describedin detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relateswill recognize various alternative designs and embodiments forpracticing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

1. An amorphous robot for use on a surface, the amorphous robotcomprising: a supply of fluid; a bladder containing the supply of fluid,wherein the bladder is divided into a plurality of compartments; a valveassembly in fluid communication with each of the compartments, whereinthe valve assembly includes a fluid pump; and a flexible outer layerthat encapsulates the bladder and the valve assembly; wherein the valveassembly selectively draws some of the fluid from at least one of thecompartments using the pump and discharges the drawn fluid into adesignated one of the compartments to thereby displace the designatedcompartment with respect to the surface, and to thereby move theamorphous robot along the surface in the direction of the discharge. 2.The amorphous robot of claim 1, wherein each compartment is separatedfrom adjacent compartments by a fluid-permeable wall.
 3. The amorphousrobot of claim 1, wherein the bladder is formed from a porous mesh thatallows the fluid to pass between the compartments at a calibrated ratesufficient for gradually equalizing fluid pressure within the bladder.4. The amorphous robot of claim 1, further comprising a control unit incommunication with the valve assembly, wherein the control unit isconfigured to: receive a set of control signals from a source; andactivate the pump in response to the set of control signals.
 5. Theamorphous robot of claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartmentsincludes at least four compartments, and wherein the number of fluidports is equal to the number of compartments.
 6. The amorphous robot ofclaim 5, wherein the valve assembly is vertically oriented with respectto the surface such that a common axis of two of the fluid ports issubstantially perpendicular to the surface when the amorphous robot isin a resting position.
 7. The amorphous robot of claim 1, wherein theouter layer includes surface asperities which grip the surface andfacilitate movement of the amorphous robot.
 8. An amorphous robot foruse on a surface, the amorphous robot comprising: a plurality ofelements each having a variable property; a flexible outer layer thatencapsulates the plurality of elements; and a control unit in electricalcommunication with each of the plurality of elements; wherein thecontrol unit selectively energizes a designated one of the elements tochange the variable property of the designated element, thereby movingthe designated element with respect to the remaining elements such thatthe amorphous robot moves with respect to the surface in the directionof movement of the designated element.
 9. The amorphous robot of claim8, wherein the flexible outer layer contains a supply of damping fluid.10. The amorphous robot of claim 8, wherein each of the elements is anelectromagnetic sphere, and wherein the variable property is themagnetic polarity of the electromagnetic sphere.
 11. The amorphous robotof claim 10, wherein each of the electromagnetic spheres includes anouter shell and conductive coils, and wherein the control unit changesthe magnetic polarity by changing the direction of flow of an electricalcurrent through the conductive coils.
 12. The amorphous robot of claim8, wherein each of the elements is a shape memory polymer (SMP) cell,and wherein the variable property is at least one of a variable shapeand a variable size of the SMP cell.
 13. The amorphous robot of claim12, wherein the control unit selectively transmits an electrical currentinto the designated element to change one of the variable shape and thevariable size of the SMP cell.
 14. The amorphous robot of claim 13,further comprising a sensor pack that is encapsulated within each of theSMP cells in communication with the control unit, wherein each of thesensor packs transmits a position signal to the control unit.
 15. Theamorphous robot of claim 8, wherein the flexible outer layer includessurface asperities which grip the surface to facilitate movement of therobot with respect to the surface.
 16. An amorphous robot for use on asurface, the amorphous robot comprising: an elongated flexible tubefilled with ferrofluid and having a longitudinal axis; a moveableelectromagnet positioned with respect to the elongated flexible tube; anactuator that is connected to the electromagnet and that selectivelymoves the electromagnet; and a control unit that is electricallyconnected to the moveable electromagnet and to the actuator; wherein thecontrol unit alternatively: energizes the electromagnet and moves theelectromagnet, via the actuator, in a first direction with respect tothe longitudinal axis to thereby magnetize the ferrofluid and lengthenthe flexible tube in the first direction; and de-energizes theelectromagnet to thereby de-magnetize the ferrofluid and shorten theflexible tube in the first direction, thus moving the robot in the firstdirection with respect to the surface.
 17. The amorphous robot of claim16, wherein the electromagnet is annular and circumscribes an outersurface of the elongated flexible tube.
 18. The amorphous robot of claim17, further comprising a flexible outer layer which encapsulates theelectromagnet and the elongated flexible tube, wherein: a gap is definedbetween the elongated flexible tube and the flexible outer layer; andthe electromagnet moves through the gap.
 19. The amorphous robot ofclaim 18, further comprising a pair of end magnets positioned at eitherend of the elongated flexible tube, wherein the control unit selectivelyactivates at least one of the end magnets to thereby assist in themovement of the electromagnet through the gap.
 20. The amorphous robotof claim 17, wherein the control unit includes a transceiver incommunication with a remote source, and wherein the transceiver receivesa set of control signals broadcast by the remote source.